mercedes vito FEATURE CAR Make it an espresso vito! Ed Kramer < > Images Jun Sawa < > Story Aus tralian Incar Entertainment #06_2014

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1 mercedes vito Make it an espresso vito! Ed Kramer < > Images Jun Sawa < > Story 30 Aus tralian Incar Entertainment #06_2014 AIE614_ MercedesVito.indd 30

2 mercedes vito Nothing like a great cup of coffee, right? Combine that with your favourite tunes via a superb sound system in a well-appointed Mercedes-Benz Vito van and you re really in latte heaven! AIE614_ MercedesVito.indd 31 31

3 mercedes vito v ito; Italian for life or life giver. And one of the most life-giving pleasures is surely great coffee and music! That s what Lade Bogdanorski, owner of this most unusual Mercedes-Benz Vito, has captured in his work and life style van. Art deco coffee? Lade is a master builder and restorer of period homes. He obviously has an eye for interior design 32 and is an aesthete. So, how to make the work van, a vehicle he spends a large part of his daily life in, into something more visually pleasing? And while at it, why not please other senses as well like the auditory and the sense of taste. To that end Lade and our friends at Phatt Audio Concepts embarked on an endeavour to fit out the Vito, with not only some master builder s touches but also a professional coffee machine, a microwave and, of course, an awesome audio system. Let s start with the audio side of things. The signal flow starts at the Alpine IVE-D800E head unit which has been installed at the top section of the dash. Below it, an ipad 3 has been placed in lieu of the factory radio and beautifully integrated within an inch of its life as Lade states. It actually looks factory-made such is the quality and seamlessness of the integration. An Alpine processor, the venerable PXA-H800 and its controller mate RUX-C800, manipulates the signal before it flows through to the amplification which is taken care of by two Phoenix Gold Aus tralian Incar Entertainment #06_2014 AIE614_ MercedesVito.indd 32

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5 MERCEDES VITO TECH SPECS owner Lade Bogdanorski vehicle 2005 Mercedes-Benz Vito engine: 2.1L Diesel transmission: Automatic SYSTEM source: Alpine IVA-D800E multimedia head unit, ipad 3 in-dash front speakers: 4 x Hertz Mille MLK3PA splits, 4 x Boston AcousticsG1 8-inch woofers (two in each door) subwoofers: 2 x Phoenix Gold Elite 12D4 12-inch subwoofers front amplifiers: 2 x Phoenix Gold SD (one for left/one for right) sub amplifiers: Phoenix Gold Elite 1 amplifier processor: Alpine PXA-H800 and RUX-C800 processor and controller front screen: ipad 3 custom molded into factory radio location wiring: Stinger Pro battery: 3 x Optima D34 Yellow Top batteries lighting: White LED lighting used throughout sound deadening: Stinger Roadkill Extreme on all outer surfaces, Focal BAM behind door trims other: Awesome DeLonghi Prima Donna coffee machine, Blanco microwave oven installed by: Phatt Audio Concepts total build time: On and off two years total installation cost: Too scared to work out credits: My wife Silvana and kids Eva and Taliana for putting up with me during the build. Mickey for his advice, recommendations and guidance and Brett and Sam from Phatt Audio Concepts for their awesome work and attention to detail AIE614_ MercedesVito.indd 35 35

6 mercedes vito SD amplifiers, one each for left and right. The subwoofer control is given to a Phoenix Gold Elite 1. A very wise choice was made in terms of speakers by way of two pairs of Hertz MLK3PA splits with four Boston Acoustics G1 8-inch woofers (two in each door). The G1s are there to fill-out the upper bass; the real bottom end is taken care of by two Phoenix Gold Elite 12D4 12-inch subwoofers. Everything is tied in with Stinger Pro cabling (run via the factory wiring channels to keep the floor flat), mood lighting is provided by white LEDs used throughout and the van was thoroughly treated with a combination of Stinger Roadkill and Focal BAM for sound deadening. It s in the details The Hertz MLK3s are set-up two per side along the front arm of the A-pillar in a staggered arrangement with the two tweeters and 3-inch midrange drivers closely spaced together. The Hertz 6.5-inch mid/bass drivers are semi-stealthily placed on the modified doors 36 Aus tralian Incar Entertainment #06_2014 AIE614_ MercedesVito.indd 36

7 MERCEDES VITO DRIVER PROFILE Name: Lade Bogdanorski Car: 2005 Mercedes-Benz Vito 1. What got you into car electronics? I ve always had a passion for fine cars and fine music so it seemd natural to combine them. 2. How long have you been into it for? Since I was 18, so 32 years. 3. Occupation? Builder and owner of Lade Period Homes. 4. Favourite music for testing audio gear? Michael Jackson always the best recordings. 5. Dream car? alongside the Boston Acoustics 8-inch drivers (two per side). Actually, the doors have been modified with a combination of materials such as plastic, acrylic and carbon composite while LEDs illuminate the drivers and an embroidered Versace logo adorns the doors. The A-pillars have been lined with black flock material while the doors have been done in a nice contrasting charcoal and black leather. The back of the van is where the tools and various stock-of-trade items are kept. But this is also where the subs and the glorious coffee machine, more on that in a moment are installed. The two Phoenix Gold Elite 12D4 subs are placed in a 60 litre custom enclosure which also doubles as the rack for the amps which are flush mounted under Perspex windows. A large art deco-ish cabinet, or armoire, has been beautifully built in the rear of the van and also sports a large Versace logo. It sits on rollers which allow it to slide out the back and it houses the DeLonghi coffee machine and the microwave. The audio system and these appliances are no doubt responsible for the need to use three heavy duty batteries Optima D34 Yellow Tops. This will, of course, provide sustenance while at work sites throughout the day. The opposite side of the van is home to all the tools and work paraphernalia all neatly arranged in custom racking. The Vito is rather special on the outside too. It s black, has been debadged and features chromed exhaust outlets and great looking five-spoke deep dish wheels in satin silver. Super cool. CONCLUSION This has been a unique feature car or van actually. It s a statement for what can be achieved by idealists like Lade and artisans like the PAC lads. To combine an excellent audio system that has been expertly installed into a working vehicle used on a daily basis is a phenomenal idea. Especially when it can be a coffee shop and restaurant on wheels. A croissant and cappuccino to go please! Early 1960s Corvette. 6. Other hobbies/interests? Body building and nutrition and renovating old weatherboard homes. 7. Where to next? Now that the van is finished, it s time to finish the house. 38 Australian Incar Entertainment #06_2014 AIE614_ MercedesVito.indd 38

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